EQUILIBRIUM DEFORMATIONS OF ROTATING NUCLEI IN A SELF-CONSISTENT SEMICLASSICAL APPROACH

We study here equilibrium deformations of rotating nuclei within a sel f-consistent semiclassical cranking approach using the SkM Skyrme eff ective interaction. The different axial rotational configurations, i.e . where the rotation axis is parallel or perpendicular to the symmetry axis, are studied as well as the Jacobi bifurcation into triaxial rot ational equilibrium shapes. Finally the validity of the concept of a r otating liquid drop which has been widely used for the determination o f average shapes of rotating nuclei is assessed by comparison with our microscopic results.